Houthis threaten to target US ships in the Red Sea if they participate in any attack on Iran
Yemen's Houthi's said they will target US ships in the Red Sea if Washington participates in any potential attack against Israel in co-operation with Israel, the group announced on Saturday.
"We will target US ships and battleships in the Red Sea if Washington participates in theattack on Iran," the group's military spokesperson Yahya Saree said in a statement published by the group's media outlet.
Saree emphasised that the group is closely monitoring movement in the region, including what he described as "hostile movements," and will take the necessary measures to protect itself.
The group considers any potential Israeli attack on Iran to be aimed at "removing Tehran as an obstacle to an Israeli plan to dominate the region," Saree said, adding that the group will not allow this plan to be implemented.
The remarks come a day after the US imposed new sanctions targeting key economic entities linked to the Houthi group.
It also comes amid escalating tensions between the US and Iran, where there is speculation about a possible US military strike targeting Iran's nuclear programme.
The US military website "The Aviationist" reported that two squadrons of B-2 strategic bombers, which are capable of carrying bunker-busting bombs, left Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri on Friday morning.
They are headed in the direction of the island of Guam in the Pacific Ocean, without indicating movements towards the Diego Garcia base in the Indian Ocean, which was previously used in similar operations.
US President Donald Trump announced in May that he had reached an understanding with the Houthi group through Omani mediation to stop naval operations against commercial ships in the Red Sea in exchange for an end to US airstrikes on the group's positions and areas under its control.
The Red Sea is a strategically vital area, through which roughly 10 per cent of global trade passes, escalation in the area can have wide economic and security repercussions.
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